Audit reveals $20 million was looted in Zimra corruption

Posted
28 Oct 2016
by Tayana

An audit into the goings-on at the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has exposed massive corruption, fraud, poor corporate governance and tax evasion scandals within the authority with revelations that Treasury was prejudiced of more than US$20 million.

According to the audit report compiled by local firm HLB Chartered Accountants and released on September 26, which has become public information after Zimra annexed it to a court affidavit yesterday, the authority’s commissioner-general Gershem Pasi worked for two years, from 2011 to 2013, after his contract had lapsed, illegally drawing hundreds of thousands of dollars in salaries and allowances.

The report also shows that Zimra executives failed to investigate a whistle-blower’s report on the externalisation and over-invoicing of US$300 million by a local telecoms firm (name supplied) through its foreign sister company.

Meanwhile, Zimra chairperson Willia Bonyongwe has deposed an affidavit opposing an urgent chamber application at the High Court by Pasi, who is challenging his suspension and an instruction to appear before a disciplinary hearing next week.